Cassius m



(ModeL) 0. M. MERRITT.

MITER OR BEVEL JOINT.

Patented Nov. 8, 1887.

f /viozq MZZWQ 6 1 v NITED STATES OASSIU'S M. MERRITT, OF

MITER OR BEVEL JOlNT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 372.695, dated November8, 1.887.

Application filedMay 7, 1886. Serial No. 201,429. (ModeL) T aZZ whom, itmay concern:

Be it known that I, CASSIUS M. MERRI'DT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cedar Rapids, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, haveinvented certainnew and useful Improvements in Miter or Bevel Joints, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to improve the construction of miter orbevel joints,so as to render them stronger than those in common use, andto facilitate the manufacture of frames and the like; and the inventionconsists in providing the parts of the frame with groove and tongue,respectively, as will be hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 represents one corner of a frame in perspective, showing theapplication of the invention, Fig. 2, a sectional plan view of the same,showing the detail of its construction, and Fig. 3 a modification inperspectite.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. I

From the drawings it will be seen that the invention is very simple,consisting. essentially, in the application of a groove and tongue to amiter or bevel joint. On one of the parts composing the frame A isformed a tongue, a and in the other part, 13, a corre sponding groove,Z). The groove and tongue may be of the usual form, with parallel sides,so as to be slipped or driven together laterally, as shown in Figs. 1and 2; or they may be dovetailed, as shown in Fig. 3, and in the lattercase are of course slipped together on the diagonal line. The former isintended to be used in connection with glue or nails, though when driventightly together it makes 0 a comparatively strong joint with neither,

especially if the lumber is hard and dry.

The improvement is particularly useful in connection with nails, as itadmits of their being driven altogether from the back side of the framethrough the tongue, and thus being entirely out of sight. So, also, whenglue is used, the tongue and groove not only serve to give greatrigidness and permanence to the joint when finished, but materiallyfacilitate the making of thejoint, since by forming the parts so as togo together tightly they may be simply driven together after the glue isap plied, and the usual clamp for holding the frame until the glue setsmay be dispensed with.

In practice I make the tongue parallel with the bevel-line, as shown inFig. 2. This leaves the end of the tongue exposed to view, as in Fig. 1.It also leaves a vacant space in the groove at the inner angle of theframe. The latter effect is usually concealed by the glass or panelinserted in the frame, and the former is a minor consideration Where theface of the frame is chiefly exposed to view.

I am aware that the use ofthe groove and tongue in connection with miteror bevel joints is not broadly new, and I do not claim it as such; butin all the miter-joints employing the groove-and-tongue principle knownto me the edge of the tongue forms a different angle or different anglesfrom that of thejoint itself. Evidently this necessitates more than oneoperation in the formation of the connective parts, since the outline ofthe tongue and groove could not be formed in the making of themiter-line. This objection is removed by making the tongue and grooveparallel with the miter-line, since the same cutter-head that forms saidmiterline makes the tongue or groove, respectively, requiring but onehandling of the stock, and effecting a corresponding saving of time inthe manufacture of the frames. Furthermore, by making the groove on thesame diagonal line as the joint-line that portion of the frame isstronger than if the groove crossed the piece at right angles, and thereis less tendency in the piece to split.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is 0 The described miter or bevel joint, whichconsists in the combination of the part A, having the tongue (1, and thepart B, having the groove b, the edge of said tongue and the bottom ofsaid groove being parallel with the bi- 5 seating-line of the joint,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CASSIUS M. MERRITT.

Witnesses:

FRANK G. CLARK, J. W. Gonnon.

